Manu Samoa sevens player convicted of causing grievous bodily harm

A Manu Samoa sevens rugby player, Alapasa Cortz, has been convicted in the Samoa Supreme Court on one count of causing grievous bodily harm after assaulting a Japanese volunteer at Apia Park stadium last year.

The victim had been severely injured, according to the court, and he sought medical treatment back in Japan.

Cortz could have been jailed for up to seven years but was fined ten thousand US dollars, which has to be paid within 48 hours.

Most of his financial penalty will help cover medical care for the victim with the remainder to go to a charitable organization chosen by the probation office.